Together with Austin, Alex passed through the central corridor of the first floor. At the end stood an iron gate, big enough for a giant to enter. It marked the entrance to the audience chamber for the bloodline awakening ceremony of the Obsidian clan.
Alex saw many branch members in the queue lining up in a line to get verified by the soldiers guards at the entrance of the hall. For direct descendants there is no need to join the queue but since father was exiled from the clan to the countryside, his status in the clan is even lower than the branch clan members.
Finally after waiting for a half an hour, our chance to get verified finally came and guard who looked at the father was surprised for a second but when he saw the young boy Alex beside him, he nodded in understanding.
The soldier guarding the chamber turned and said, "Austin Obsidian, Alex Obsidian Verified."
With a creaking sound, the soldier opened the door, revealing a dazzling world. Light poured in, illuminating priceless ornaments on the gold-colored walls.
Standing in the vast hall, Alex took in the grandeur around him. Tapestries and banners adorned with the symbols of the three bloodlines made the hall feel like a sanctum of ancestral power.
The air held a palpable tension, as if the walls echoed with centuries-old ceremonies. Colossal pillars engraved with Obsidian clan history supported the high ceiling. Soft light from ornate chandeliers bathed the hall like celestial orbs.
The polished marble floor beneath Alex's feet reflected symbols of the Stormforge, Sky Rumble, and Tempest Born bloodlines, shimmering with anticipation.
Looking at the gathered clan members, Alex noticed they all had the aura of seasoned warriors who had participated in many wars, much like his grandfather Wishton.
Elders with weathered expressions, warriors marked by battles, and young heirs like Alex—all were there, bound by the shared excitement of the bloodline awakening.
As the door closed, all eyes in the room focused on Alex who entered with his father.
" Young master Austin? Then that child is?"
" He has the same black hair, a sign of the Obsidian clan which signifies that he is most likely the child of Young master Austin "
" But his golden eyes sure resemble his mother from a lower clan. "
"He's small for his age. I heard he had an illness, is that true?"
" Must be, inheriting the blood of a loser who tarnished the reputation of the clan by defying the order of patriarch "
" It should be referred to as a failure since his talent was even lower than some branch clan members, not a loser. "
People Alex had never seen paid close attention, and it wasn't positive.
" Letting the child of someone like him in is lowering the standards."
"Exactly. This is unacceptable."
"Well, everyone from the Obsidian clan has to attend the awakening ceremony with their children."
Alex felt the condemning stares, and despite his indifference to being called small, his chest tightened.
"It's alright, Alex. Just look at me."
Austin smiled, unfazed by words like 'failure' and 'outlaw.'
" As expected, father is strong "
At the voice of his father, the throbbing in his heart settled down.
" They must be from the branch line "
Alex's eyes, which skimmed the interior of the audience chamber once he regained his composure, stopped at the top of the platform.
Five people were sitting on purple chairs.
They surrounded themselves with an aura on a different level compared to those below and were looking down on the others.
" They are in a different league "
If the branch line below were foxes and wolves, then the direct line on the platform already gave off the presence of a dragon soaring through the sky.
While they did not open their mouths like the branch relatives, they didn't even bother to gaze at the father except one person.
Alex had reached the conclusion that it was a broken family when Austin headed not towards the top of the platform, but the bottom. And he went straight to the end of it as if he didn't want to mingle with anyone in the clan.
The soldiers stationed outside the grand audience chamber brought down their spears in unison, a synchronized display of authority.
"The head of House Obsidian, ruler of the North. Lord Harrison Obsidian has arrived!"
With those words, the imposing iron doors of the audience chamber swung open wide, revealing the commanding figure of Harrison Obsidian. His presence sent shockwaves through the air, causing the very atmosphere to tremble.
Gravity felt more pronounced, and breathing became a challenge in the wake of his arrival. A suffocating tension gripped Alex's spine as he witnessed the scene unfolding before him.
"Lord Harrison!"
Dragons perched atop the platform and wolves baring their teeth below, all bowed simultaneously in deference to the powerful ruler.
Thump.
The echo of Harrison's footsteps resonated like the stomp of a giant dragon as he entered. His absolute presence weighed down the entire audience chamber, and he took his seat on the resplendent golden throne at the center of the platform.
"Let us begin."
With a casual flick of his fingers, two towering structures materialized at the platform's center—one white, one purple.
These mystical towers held an air of intrigue. The purple tower showcased three orbs, each imbued with distinctive colors: blue for Stormforge, golden for Tempestborn, and black for Skyrumble bloodlines.
Meanwhile, the white tower boasted six darkened light orbs arranged from top to bottom, representing various bloodline ranks. First being mortal, next Human, next Royal, next Emperor, next Demi God and lastly God rank which was not seen by anyone for thousands of years.
From the lowest, where mortals with negligible bloodlines resided, to the pinnacle unseen for millennia—God rank.
Despite their similar appearances, the effects of the two towers diverged significantly. The purple tower identified one's bloodline, while the white tower unveiled the rank of that bloodline.
As Lord Harrison gestured, the assembly absorbed the significance of these towers. The purple tower resonated with the attendees, linking them to their ancestral bloodlines, while the white tower unveiled the hierarchical tapestry of their lineage.